Whaler goalie Mark Paton’s 30-save shutout stoned the Steelers in Game 2 Feb. 17. (Alistair Burns)
Grandview heads to winner-take-all Game 3 in Centennial Arena Feb. 19
CENTENNIAL ARENA – After Grandview netminder Ronin Geraghty’s shutout in Game 1, it took the White Rock Whalers a total of three-and-a-half periods to solve the Steeler goalie.
But in Game 2, skilled Whaler Max Lyons broke Geraghty’s shutout streak halfway through the first period, and added an insurance marker with the extra man for a 4-0 victory on home ice Feb. 17.
The Whalers went 2-for-8 on the power play – captain Travis Smythe also scored with five minutes remaining while goalie Mark Paton picked up the 30-save shutout. The Steelers were 0-for-7.
Steeler Colby Longeau acknowledged that the Whalers did a “good job” at regrouping on their man advantages.
It all comes down to this
Now, for the second straight year, the Steelers will head to a winner-take-all Game 3.
In this series, the Whalers are the higher seed and will host Game 3 on Monday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m.
Grandview captain Gabe Adam said that they need to have a “short memory” and immediately look ahead to Monday. “Defence is key” along with an early lead.
Longeau predicted that the Steelers would “come out energized and ready to play.” After all, he and his teammates “don’t want to go home early.”
Instead, the 18-year-old forward pointed out that “we want to upset them in their barn.”
Last season was the debut of this best-of-three ‘survivor’ series between fourth and fifth-place teams. Grandview won against the North Vancouver Wolf Pack in the Burnaby Winter Club in double overtime.
